Start Preschool at 2 or 3 / Nov bday

[Anonymous]

Similar to other thread. DC has Nov bday. Assuming going on school schedule to start in August. Is it better to start preschool at 2 almost 3; OR 3 almost 4? We miss school cut off so will need to do pre-K.

When do kids start getting the most benefit?

We love our home daycare but it's not a replacement for preschool. But it's affordable, safe and DC is so happy... but the 4-5 yr olds are bored and 2-3 yr olds have a blast.

We need full day.

[Anonymous]

I found preschool a waste of time at 2. If you have a good provider and child is happy, I'd wait till almost 4.

[Anonymous]

It doesn't matter. I was in the other thread but I had to do it at 2 bc I wanted part time preschool for childcare reasons and was having trouble finding part time options before 2. If I had another childcare option that was fine it would have been different. I wasn't otherwise in a rush for preschool itself.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is a November birthday and we did 2,almost 3. However, I think we could have gone either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Similar to other thread. DC has Nov bday. Assuming going on school schedule to start in August. Is it better to start preschool at 2 almost 3; OR 3 almost 4? We miss school cut off so will need to do pre-K.

When do kids start getting the most benefit?

We love our home daycare but it's not a replacement for preschool. But it's affordable, safe and DC is so happy... but the 4-5 yr olds are bored and 2-3 yr olds have a blast.

We need full day.

For a two year old or young three year old, the most important parts of preschool are safe loving care; adults who provide lots of stimulation in terms of conversation topics, toys, and activities; and other children to play with. If your child is getting those things at home daycare then I'd keep him there, unless there's another factor like commute or an older sibling at preschool that you're not mentioning.

Two years of preschool is plenty.

[Anonymous]

2 almost 3

[Anonymous]

We started at 2.5 (in January), my child has late October bday. There are programs that start mid-year. Otherwise, I would wait until 3 if you are SAHM.

[Anonymous]

DC1 is a fall birthday and went to preschool at 2. Complete waste of time, four years of preschool was excessive. DC2 is also a fall birthday, went to preschool at 3

[Anonymous]

DC1 has a September birthday (in a jurisdiction with a 9/1 cutoff). She went to part time preschool at 2 turning 3 and was otherwise home with a nanny. It was fine, but if she had already been in group care I would not have moved her until the following year.

[Anonymous]

2 almost 3 will give your DC three years or preschool, not four. It's reasonable if the preschool program is set up for three years (ours was, and we have no regrets about doing all three) but we looked at some that were designed as two-year programs, and those are not so hot if you want to start at 2 almost 3 because they lock you into doing public PK or finding another preschool for that third year.

We did not consider waiting until 3-almost-4 since we were in a nanny share and preschool was cheaper, but have friends who did with no regrets either. It really depends on what your current situation. In a home daycare, I'd also consider when other kids plan to leave--will your DC be the oldest one there if she stays, or do most kids stay till three?

[Anonymous]

We started at 2, almost 3. DC got three years of preschool. Worked well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2 almost 3 will give your DC three years or preschool, not four. It's reasonable if the preschool program is set up for three years (ours was, and we have no regrets about doing all three) but we looked at some that were designed as two-year programs, and those are not so hot if you want to start at 2 almost 3 because they lock you into doing public PK or finding another preschool for that third year.

We did not consider waiting until 3-almost-4 since we were in a nanny share and preschool was cheaper, but have friends who did with no regrets either. It really depends on what your current situation. In a home daycare, I'd also consider when other kids plan to leave--will your DC be the oldest one there if she stays, or do most kids stay till three?

I think it's 4 years. My young DC will do the 2s two times then the 3s then the 4s. They asked if I wanted to move my DC up to 3s next year but I said no because I love her teachers and I look forward to her having them again next year and also because DC will not go to K early so I would rather repeat 2s than 3s b

[Anonymous]

^^ sorry ignore me. Mine started at 1 almost 2.

[Anonymous]

DD is an October bday. We're doing 2x a week at a daycare since she turned 3, but mainly because it's in my work building and is super convenient. In the fall, she's going to a "real" preschool, 3x/week. The next year (4 almost 5), she'll go 5x a week. Two years of "school" before kindergarten is plenty, in my opinion.

-kindergarten teacher

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same boat, November bday. I am definitely waiting until he's almost 4. He's very happy & learning a lot at his in home daycare but I think he will be bored at 4 & he will be the oldest. He will have a year of preschool and a year of pre-k which I think is plenty